The six-million-square-metre industrial and logistics zone is designed to connect Upper Egypt’s mineral wealth with Red Sea ports and export markets, although the project’s investment value and implementation timetable remain undisclosed.
Egypt’s General Authority for the Golden Triangle Economic Zone (GTEZ) has signed its first industrial-development agreement with Elsewedy Industrial Development to establish an integrated industrial and logistics zone in Safaga.
The six-million-square-metre development will be delivered in three phases and is designed to accommodate mineral processing, downstream manufacturing, logistics, warehousing and export-support industries.
The agreement advances an August 2025 memorandum of understanding between the two parties and represents the first major private-sector development contract within the Golden Triangle Economic Zone, moving the long-planned project closer to implementation.
However, neither GTEZ nor Elsewedy has disclosed the project’s investment value, construction timetable, concession period, first-phase area or expected number of industrial tenants.
Building value from Egypt’s mineral resources
Covering around 9,000 square kilometres between Safaga, Quseir and Qena, the Golden Triangle contains significant deposits of phosphate, limestone, gold, zinc, glass sand and other industrial minerals.
The government’s objective is to attract industries that process these resources locally, generating higher-value exports and supporting sectors such as fertilisers, chemicals, construction materials and engineering products rather than exporting raw materials.
Elsewedy Industrial Development, one of Egypt’s leading private industrial-zone developers, is expected to leverage its experience in planning industrial cities and attracting manufacturers to support investment within the zone.
Logistics strengthen the investment case
The project’s location complements Egypt’s wider logistics strategy.
Trial operations began in June at Safaga’s new multipurpose terminal, operated by AD Ports Group under a 30-year concession. The terminal is designed to handle containers, dry and bulk cargo, liquid cargo and vehicles, strengthening Safaga’s role as a gateway for industrial exports.
The zone will also benefit from the Safaga–Qena–Abu Tartour logistics corridor, linking Upper Egypt’s mining and industrial centres with Red Sea shipping routes and international markets.
Elsewedy also plans to establish a branch of its Technical Academy within the development to provide skilled labour for industrial, engineering and logistics activities. The master plan will incorporate renewable-energy solutions and resource-efficiency measures, although detailed sustainability targets have yet to be announced.
Execution will determine success
The agreement provides the clearest commercial framework for the Golden Triangle project since the authority was established in 2017.
Its long-term success, however, will depend on attracting anchor manufacturers, completing infrastructure on schedule and converting the region’s mineral and logistics advantages into competitive export-oriented industries.
The development could also strengthen Egypt’s position as a manufacturing base serving African and Middle Eastern markets under regional trade agreements, provided it succeeds in attracting sustained private-sector investment.
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